Sanitary toothpaste dispenser

ABSTRACT

A sanitary dispenser for tubes of toothpaste wherein there is provided a member for attachment to the neck of a toothpaste tube, there being a plurality of nozzles or tube members extending therefrom whereby toothpaste can be dispensed selectively from any of the tubular members onto a toothbrush or the like.

United States Patent Orrin H. Thomas Williamsport. Pa.

Feb. 24, 1969 July 6, I971 Richard L. Hughes;

J. C. Enterprises Tioga, Pa. part interest to each Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignees SANITARY TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 222/92,

222/482 Int. Cl .1 865d 35/38 Field of Search 222/92,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1.327.757 1/1920 Eggers. v. l. 401/28 1.791686 3/1931 Homer 222/92 2826339 3/1958 Maillard 222/390 X 3,353,721 11/1967 Love 222/330 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerNorman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney-Shen'nan Levy ABSTRACT: A sanitary dispenser for tubes of toothpaste wherein there is provided a member for attachment to the neck of a toothpaste tube, there being a plurality of nozzles or tube members extending therefrom whereby toothpaste can be dispensed selectively from any of the tubular members onto a toothbrush or the like.

PATENTED JUL 6 l97l INVENTOR, grrin HThomos 7 ATTORNEY SANITARY TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER This invention relates to a dispenser for pastelike material such as toothpaste, and more particularly to a device which will permit toothpaste to be dispensed onto individual toothbrushes in a sanitary manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary toothpaste dispenser which is adapted to be conveniently attached to the neck of a toothpaste tube after the usual cap has been removed from the toothpaste tube and whereby when the person or member of a family wishes to dispense toothpaste onto his or her toothbrush it is only necessary to manually remove a closure member or nozzle and by squeezing the toothpaste tube the toothpaste can be readily dispensed onto a toothbrush in the desired manner.

Still another object is to provide a sanitary toothpaste dispenser that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the specification and claims wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the sanitary toothpaste dispenser of the present invention attached to a toothpaste tube, and with parts of the toothpaste dispenser broken away, and with one of the closures removed showing toothpaste being dispensed for application to a tooth brush.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the sanitary toothpaste dispenser of the present invention that includes a body member 11 that may be made of any suitable material such as a suitable plastic, and the body member 11 may include spaced parallel sidewalls 12, and the interior of the body member 11 is hollow or provided with a passageway 13, FIG. 3. The body member 11 further includes spaced parallel end walls 14 as well as front and backwalls 15 and 16 that are arranged in spaced apart relation with respect to each other.

The numeral 17 indicates a cap or sleeve that is formed integral with or affixed to the intermediate portion of the wall 15, and the cap 17 is hollow and has an interiorly threaded portion 18 for engagement with or for receiving therein the threaded neck 19 of a conventional toothpaste tube 20, H68. 1 and 3.

Secured to or formed integral with the wall 16 of the body member 11 is a plurality of spaced apart tubular members or nozzles 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. These tubular members 2l25 may be made in different lengths for a purpose to be later described. Closures 26 are adapted to be removably mounted on the outer portions of the tubular members 21-25. If desired, the tubular members may have a means for preventing accidental disengagement or separation of the closures from the tubular members, and this means may consist of annular ribs 27 which can be formed integral with the outer periphery of the tubular members. The closures 26 may include enlarged flange or rim portions 28 which provide a convenient finger-gripping portion to facilitate the manual removal of the closures from the tubular members. in FIG. 1 there is shown the tubular member 21 with its corresponding closure 26 removed so that by manually squeezing the tube the toothpaste will pass through the neck 19 and then through the hollow sleeve 17, then through the hollow inner passageway 13 and out through the tubular member 21 onto the desired toothbrush, and this arrangement permits the toothpaste 29 to be dispensed in a sanitary manner onto a persons toothbrush so that there has been provided a sanitary toothpaste dispenser as shown in the drawings. When using the device, the device is adapted to be attached to a tube such as a tube 20 whereby the threaded neck 19 is then adapted to be arranged in threaded arrangement with the threaded portion 18 of the sleeve 17. As long as the device is not being used the closures 26 are adapted to be arranged in closing position over the outer open ends of the tubular member 22. When a person wishes to dispense a quantity of toothpaste onto a toothbrush the person merely removes the proper closure 26 from the particular tubular member 2125, and then manually squeezes the tube 20 so that the toothpaste will flow out through the neck 19, the through the sleeve 17, then through the passageway or space 29 and out through the tubular member such as the tubular member 21. In FIGS. 1 and 3 the numeral 29 indicates the toothpaste being dispensed from the tubular member 21. After the desired quantity of toothpaste has been dispensed onto the toothbrush the closure 26 is returned to its closed position on the tubular member so that the toothpaste will be maintained in a fresh condition.

As shown in the drawings, the tubular members 2l25 are made in different lengths. The purpose of this is to make it easy for various individuals in a group or family unit to have exclusive right to the use of one of the tubular members. Thus, by making the tubular members of different lengths the person can more easily remember which tubular member he or she is to use on a continuing basis. Also, as a further way of helping to assign a certain dispensing tubular member to an individual the various closures 26 may be made in different colors so that each of the users may be assigned or may choose a particular color of closures which will further simplify the matter of which individual uses the particular dispensing tubular member. Further, by making the tubular members 2125 of different lengths there is provided increased clearance between the tubular members so as to facilitate the placement of the toothbrush nearby, and, in addition, this stepped arrangement or provision of tubular members of different lengths helps assure that the toothbrush can be positioned contiguous to the proper tubular member without touching or contacting any of the other tubular members. This is especially advantageous or desirable when many people object to the idea of toothbrushes belonging to different individuals coming in contact with the same neck of the toothpaste tube, and the present invention overcomes these disadvantages in a highly efficient and sanitary manner.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes and sizes.

It is to be understood that the number of tubular members that is provided can be varied. It is to be understood that the tubular members are generally rectangular in cross section but that it may have different other formations such as a cylindrical formation or the like. The sanitary toothpaste dispenser of the present invention can be readily manufactured and sold commercially either as an individual unit or else it may be merchandized as a component part of one or more tubes of toothpaste. The present invention is especially suitable for people who are squeamish about using the same outlet from a toothpaste tube. The device is compact, and the parts can be molded as a one-piece unit or else the parts may be made separately and then affixed together. The tubular members can be made in different lengths so that individuals can put toothpaste on their toothbrush without touching other parts of the device so that the present invention is primarily a sanitation device. The present invention can be used as a promotion item for facilitating the selling and using of the family-type toothpaste. By making the tips or tubular members 25 of different lengths the toothbrush can be supplied with toothpaste without the tooth brushes bumping into each other or contacting any other parts of the device. The device is very sanitary to use since no brushes will touch the tube of toothpaste and, in addition, no brushes will touch each other. The closures 26 may be of a screw on-type or they may have any suitable construction, and, in addition, the closures may be of the hingetype so that they will never drop off and get lost. There is no waste because the remaining toothpaste is carried on or dispensed on to the next tube. When using the device, the conventional top is taken off the tube and discarded, and then the unit 10 is connected to the tube by means of the rectangular sleeve or cap 17.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

11. A sanitary toothpaste dispenser, comprising a body member having a hollow interior that defines and provides a passageway, said'body member including spaced parallel flat sidewalls, the said body member including spaced parallel flat sidewalls, said body member further including flat spaced end walls, and spaced front and backwalls, said front and backwalls being flat, a cap on the intermediate portion of said front wall, said cap being of cylindrical formation, said cap being internally threaded for receiving the threaded neck of a squeezable toothpaste tube, a plurality of spaced apart tubular members affixed to the backwall of said body member, and

said tubular members communicating with the interior of the body member so that toothpaste can be dispensed selectively from any of the tubular members onto a toothbrush or the like, certain of said tubular members being ofdifferent lengths from the others, manually removable closures for selectively closing the outer end portions of said tubular members, said tubular members having annular shoulders on the outer periphery thereof, said closures having enlarged flanged portions, said enlarged flange portions defining and providing finger gripping portions to facilitate the manual removal of the closures, and whereby when any of the closures are removed, the tube of toothpaste can be squeezed so that the toothpaste will pass through the neck, then through the cap, then through the passageway and out through a corresponding tubular member from which the closure has been removed. 

1. A sanitary toothpaste dispenser, comprising a body member having a hollow interior that defines and provides a passageway, said body member including spaced parallel flat sidewalls, the said body member including spaced parallel flat sidewalls, said body member further including flat spaced end walls, and spaced front and backwalls, said front and backwalls being flat, a cap on the intermediate portion of said front wall, said cap being of cylindrical formation, said cap being internally threaded for receiving the threaded neck of a squeezable toothpaste tube, a plurality of spaced apart tubular members affixed to the backwall of said body member, and said tubular members communicating with the interior of the body member so that toothpaste can be dispensed selectively from any of the tubular members onto a toothbrush or the like, certain of said tubular members being of different lengths from the others, manually removable closures for selectively closing the outer end portions of said tubular members, said tubular members having annular shoulders on the outer periphery thereof, said closures having enlarged flanged portions, said enlarged flange portions defining and providing finger gripping portions to facilitate the manual removal of the closures, and whereby when any of the closures are removed, the tube of toothpaste can be squeezed so that the toothpaste will pass through the neck, then through the cap, then through the passageway and out through a corresponding tubular member from which the closure has been removed. 